The use and success of activity-based management practices at different organisational life cycle stages

This study examines the association between organisational life cycle (OLC) stages and the use and success of activity-based management (ABM) practices. The results reveal that maturity and revival stage business units use each level of ABM to a greater extent than those in the birth, growth and decline stages. In addition, while the level of ABM success does not differ across OLC stages, ABM success is dependent upon business units using each ABM practice to the greatest extent. The findings provide managers with an insight into the appropriateness of using ABM practices at different OLC stages.